Here’s what I would do if I had to start all over again and what I’m doing now
1. Live below my means
One of the biggest ways to create wealth is to live below your means. This is the foundation for any type of wealth. If you live above your means, you’re going to run out of money at some point.
If you earn $1,000, don’t spend $1,000. Spend 50–90% of that and save and invest the rest. The less you can live on, the more you can invest into your wealth bucket.
2. Multiple income streams
Don’t rely on one income source. Always have more than one income source to protect yourself financially and diversify where you get your money from.
Just as you should diversify your assets, you should also diversify where you get the money to invest in assets. This keeps you more fluid and flexible and mitigates dependency.
3. Set up an emergency fund
An emergency fund is one of the most crucial account types to set up. Set up this fund to protect you from unforeseen circumstances and surprises that require financial resources.
Emergency funds are designed to protect you and prevent you from going into debt or hurting yourself financially. They make you more economically bulletproof.
Some recommend building a 3–6 month emergency fund; this is a great start. But imagine how you might feel if you build a 1–2 emergency fund… probably a little bit safer, confident, and financially relaxed.
4. Invest consistently and aggressively
If you want to build wealth, don’t allow your money to sit in a savings account. Instead, put your money to work for you by investing it in fruit-bearing interest accounts.
And don’t stop investing. Many people invest but don’t stick with it, or they end up withdrawing their money. The longer you leave your money alone and the more money you put into investments, the harder it will work for you. Keep your money invested.
5. Attend more personal finance conferences.
I wish I had started attending more finance conferences earlier. Not just for the knowledge but also for the people you meet in these environments. It’s true: your network is your net worth.
Invest in your education via books, webinars, and mentorships, and surround yourself with learning environments a couple of times a year to meet new people, mastermind/brainstorm, and make new financial connections to elevate your net worth.
6. Surround myself with more people who are financially succeeding
Are the majority of the people around you broke or financially successful? Are the majority of people around you flourishing and thriving, or are they struggling and complaining about money?
The people you surround yourself with will affect you and your finances. Don’t people from diverse backgrounds, but ensure you’re elevating your mindset, goals, and habits by surrounding yourself with people who are doing better than you.
7. Wealth Is Behavioral. Make Your Actions Match Your Goals
Another principle that quietly supports all of these habits is intentionality. Wealth rarely grows by accident. It grows when decisions are made deliberately instead of reactively.
Living below your means isn’t about restriction — it’s about choosing where your money actually goes instead of wondering where it went.
Multiple income streams also aren’t about hustle for the sake of hustle. They’re about risk management.
When income comes from one source, you’re exposed. When income comes from several places, you gain leverage. That leverage buys peace of mind. It allows you to make better decisions because fear isn’t driving them. Even small secondary streams can make a meaningful difference over time.
Emergency funds serve a similar purpose. They don’t make you wealthy, but they protect what you’re building. Financial stress pushes people into bad decisions — selling investments too early, taking on high-interest debt, or staying in situations that no longer serve them. A solid emergency fund absorbs shocks so your long-term strategy stays intact.
Consistency in investing matters more than timing. People obsess over market highs and lows, but the real advantage comes from staying invested through all of it. Markets fluctuate. Habits compound. Aggressive doesn’t mean reckless — it means committed. It means continuing to invest when it’s boring, uncomfortable, or emotionally difficult. That’s where the real gains are made.
Education accelerates clarity. When you understand how money works, you’re less likely to panic or chase trends. Conferences, books, and mentorship expose you to frameworks that shorten your learning curve. More importantly, they normalize success. Being around people who are building wealth makes it feel achievable rather than abstract.
Your environment shapes your outcomes. If everyone around you views money as something to complain about, avoid, or spend impulsively, it becomes harder to think differently. Surrounding yourself with people who are financially disciplined doesn’t mean cutting others off — it means being intentional about influence. Proximity matters.
Another overlooked factor is patience. Wealth doesn’t respond well to urgency. Trying to rush results often leads to over-leveraging, risky decisions, and burnout. Sustainable progress comes from repeating simple actions long enough for compounding to do its job. The timeline may be slower than you want, but it’s faster than starting over repeatedly.
It’s also important to revisit your plan periodically. Life changes. Income changes. Goals evolve. What worked five years ago may not make sense today. Reviewing your financial habits allows you to adjust without abandoning your foundation. Flexibility doesn’t mean inconsistency — it means responsiveness.
Ultimately, building wealth is less about money and more about behavioral alignment. When your spending, earning, investing, and environment all point in the same direction, progress becomes inevitable. There will be setbacks, but they won’t derail you. The habits act as guardrails.
Wealth is built quietly, often without external validation. The payoff isn’t just numbers on a screen — it’s optionality, stability, and freedom. And that freedom is earned one disciplined decision at a time.
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This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Not all information will be accurate. Consult a financial professional before making any significant financial decisions